Situated on the grassy plains of Armstrong County, the picturesque Texas town of Claude has for decades enjoyed its reputation as “The Movie Capital of the Panhandle,” thanks to three films: “Hud,” “Sunshine Christmas” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”
In late June of 1962, Paramount Pictures completed work in Claude on the first film, “Hud.” As about 100 filmmakers returned to California, star-struck Claude residents reflected on their big-screen experiences.
The filmmakers “remembered all of our names, even our kids,” recalled Claude grocer Bill Brady. “We had ‘em up to dinner!”
“Everybody that had any contact with them was very pleasantly surprised,” said Claude banker Bert Woodridge, “They were very considerate of us. We kind of hated to see them leave.”
The Reverend James Todd commented, “A number of people thought (actor Paul) Newman was distant, but when you got him in a conversation, he was very friendly. A small number of married women and teen-age girls lost their heads over him.”